Archive

SIS archive and records policy

Data Protection Act

SIS, like the other intelligence and security agencies, is
subject to the provisions of the Data
Protection Act 1998 (DPA). Personal information is exempt from
many of the operative provisions of the Data Protection Act if an
exemption is necessary for the purpose of safeguarding national
security. The requirement for the application of exemptions under
the DPA is considered on a case by case basis by SIS.

Public Records Act 1958 and Implications

The Public
Records Act of 1958 places a legal obligation on government
bodies to transfer records to The National Archives. The
intelligence and security agencies all have a blanket exemption
from this obligation for reasons of national security.

The Security Service and GCHQ have placed some of their records
in The National
Archives. Because of the importance of protecting the
identity of our sources, SIS maintains a policy of not releasing
its records into the public domain. It is Service policy not to
disclose the identities of individuals working for or cooperating
with us.

SIS has reviewed the records of the Special Operations Executive
(SOE) of WWII prior to their transfer to The National Archives. We
also cooperate with other departments to review and security-edit
records which refer to SIS before they are placed in The National
Archives.